Allen Eskens Books in Order

Allen Eskens is an American crime fiction and thriller author, winner of the Barry Award, Minnesota Book Award, Left Coast Crime Award, and Silver Falchion Award, and a finalist for the Edgar, Thriller, Anthony, and Nero Awards. A former criminal defense attorney who practiced law in Minnesota for 25 years, he brings direct courtroom experience and legal authenticity to his novels. His books have been translated into over 20 languages.

This page lists all Allen Eskens books in order, including the Joe Talbert, Max Rupert, and Lila Nash series, standalone novels, and the interconnected characters that link them, organized by publication order and chronological order where applicable.

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Joe Talbert Series (Books in Order)

The Joe Talbert series follows University of Minnesota student Joe Talbert, who begins investigating a dying convicted murderer for a college assignment and finds himself drawn into cases that test everything he believes about justice and innocence. Based on Allen Eskens’ background as a criminal defense attorney, the series balances well-structured plotting with genuine moral complexity.

Reading Order

  1. The Life We Bury, 2014
  2. The Shadows We Hide, 2018
  3. The Stolen Hours, 2021

Max Rupert Series (Books in Order)

The Max Rupert series follows Minneapolis homicide detective Max Rupert, who was first introduced in the Joe Talbert books, who is prevalent in several of the author’s interconnected novels. Rupert is a compelling figure: methodical, haunted, and operating in the grey zones of justice that Allen Eskens knows well from his years in criminal law.

Reading Order

  1. The Life We Bury, 2014
  2. The Guise of Another, 2015
  3. The Heavens May Fall, 2016
  4. The Deep Dark Descending, 2017
  5. The Shadows We Hide, 2018
  6. Forsaken Country, 2022

Lila Nash Series (Books in Order)

The Lila Nash series follows Joe Talbert’s neighbour Lila Nash, first introduced in the Joe Talbert books, as she completes law school and becomes a prosecutor, taking on violent crimes against women from the other side of the justice system. It is a natural spin-off that stands strongly on its own.

Reading Order

  1. The Stolen Hours, 2021

Standalone Novels

Allen Eskens Biography

Allen Eskens author

Allen Eskens is an American crime novelist focusing on legal thrillers, and former attorney.
Official website: alleneskens.com

Allen Eskens was born and raised in central Missouri. He attended the University of Iowa in Iowa City and part-time he worked for a drywall contractor. 

In 1986, he enrolled at the University of Minnesota where he got his BA in journalism, and then he got a Master’s degree from Minnesota State University, followed by a Juris Doctorate degree in law at Hamline University in 1991..d a law degree from Hamline University.

After working as a practicing criminal defense attorney for several years, Allen Eskens left his law career to write novels full-time.

His debut novel, The Life We Bury, was published in 2014, and it features Joe Talbert, a University of Minnesota student. His background as a journalist and lawyer have influenced his writing.

Awards and Honors

Awards

  • The Life We Bury – Barry Award for Best Paperback Original novel (2015)
  • The Life We Bury – Left Coast Crime Award (Rosebud Award) for Best Debut Novel (2015)
  • The Heavens May Fall – Silver Falchion Award for Best First Novel (2017)
  • The Deep Dark Descending – Barry Award for Best Paperback Original (2018)

Nominations and Shortlists

  • The Life We Bury – Anthony Award for Best First Novel (2015)
  • The Life We Bury – Edgar Award for Best First Novel (2015)
  • The Life We Bury – Minnesota Book Award for Genre Fiction (2015)
  • The Life We Bury – Thriller Award for Best First Novel (2015)
  • The Heavens May Fall – Barry Awards Best Paperback Original novel (2017)
  • The Heavens May Fall – Barry Award for Best Paperback Original (2017)
  • The Shadows We Hide – Barry Award for Best Novel (2019)

Edited by

Marika

Founder of Mystery Sequels, a reference site focused on listing mystery and thriller books in the correct reading order. I maintain and update the site’s bibliographies as new titles are released, ensuring accuracy and consistency across author and series pages.

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22 Comments

  1. I am an avid reader and just discovered Allen Eskens’ The Life We Bury. It captured my interest so well that i read it in one day -.
    seamless writing. I look forward to reading his other novels.

  2. I love this author! I am literally consuming his books. What a joy! What a treat! Discovering a new author is like finding treasure, a new friend if you will. Keep writing Mr. Eskens! and, thank you

    1. I agree wholeheartedly …I just started reading Mr. Eskens books, and can’t get enough….love the detail, very well written…

  3. Though it was well written and a page turner I assumed it was a book for young adolescents and the bit about ninjas convinced me there of I was surprised that the author had in fact written many books and that no one else had found it predictable and the characters though loveable a bit stupid and the sexual parts gratuitous

  4. I have been voracious reader all my life. Recently my eyes are giving me issues so I like to.listeneong to books that run into others. As well I have To be able to tolerate the narrator. I am now on starting my 6th book that started with Joe!. Allen your books are riveting On a level with other favorite author Karen Slaughter. Please kerp them coming!

    1. I completely agree with you with being able to tolerate the narrator. Until I have exhausted all other options, I will not use audiobooks unless that is my only option left, and the book is a “must read”.

      1. My two loves are reading and knitting/crocheting, although up until a few years ago I was reading all my books in hand…now I am hooked on Audibles because I can knit at the same time…the narrator is incredible and I have only listened to one or two where the narrator wasn’t good…not any of Mr. Eskens books.. brilliant author ….thank you for sharing your gift

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